How to Give Someone a Facial

Co-authored by Laura Menendez

Last Updated: September 28, 2023 Approved

Do you like making others look beautiful? Do you like to make others feel special? Then perhaps giving people facials is the hobby (or even the career) for you.

Ingredients

Nuts or sugar may be used as exfoliants.
Honey, Mayonnaise, Cucumber, Strawberries, or even Chocolate may be used in masks. Note: Be sure that neither you nor your clients have any allergies to any of these. See Warnings.

Steps

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The first 2 most important steps in a facial, is to:
- Disinfect your hands.^{[1]
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  Mayo Clinic
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- Gather some info from your client about themselves. E.g: Do they have any allergies or sensitivities to any certain ingredients, which are often used in cosmetics or applied directly to the skin during aesthetic treatments. This is very important to know, as if these are applied, they will definitely produce the opposite results in which you are trying to achieve with your facial application.
Wrap a clean towel around your client's head.

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If she happens to be wearing eye makeup, apply eye makeup remover to a cotton pad, to gently cleanse the eye area. Always cleanse the eye area in counter clock wise to avoid wrinkling the eye area.^{[2]
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Apply two moistened cotton pads to your client's eyes, while you are taking a close look at their skin. Have a lamp right over your client's face, hence the need for the cotton pads on the eyes, and take notice of any flaws or blemishes, for example: comedones, pimples, etc size of pores, fine lines, dehydration, etc. These will determine the type of skin your client has.^{[3]
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Research source} There are four main skin types:
- Normal: This is considered the best skin type. It is has a good oil/water balance, with no impurities, or fine lines.
- Dry: This skin type has very tight pores, due to lack of oil. While it will not have any impurities, it tends to mature faster, and develop fine lines faster.
- Combination: Parts of the face are oily, while other parts are dry(usually the T Zone((the forehead, nose, and chin area))is the oily part, while the cheeks are the dry part).
- Oily: this skin type, has an overabundance of oil. Although this skin type matures the slowest, it usually has a shiny surface and multiple impurities.
Exfoliating is good for the skin as it sloughs away dead cells from the skin which accumulate, and prevents newer cells from growing.^{[4]
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American Academy of Dermatology
Professional organization made of over 20,000 certified dermatologists

Go to source} Once this is done, you may pat the skin dry.
Take some massage cream or oil, and apply it freely to your client's skin.^{[5]
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Research source} Once this is done, you may start doing upward strokes on the skin. Don't use downward strokes on the skin, as gravity will pull the skin down, apparently. Do a little "tap dance" with your finger tips on your client's skin; use your index finger and your middle finger in a "scissors" like motion along the jaw line. Massaging the skin will increase the blood flow in your client's face.
The best way to steam pores from scratch, salons and spas usually have steamers for their aestheticians to use on their clients, is to take a warm towel and wrap it around your client's face for about two minutes. This will open the pores on the face. It is best to have open pores when applying a beauty mask.^{[6]
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Take a paint brush or a spatula and apply a mineral-rich mud or clay, and smooth it all over your client's face. Mud masks clean out the pores and strengthen them. Leave only the eye area, you may want to put some more cotton pads onto the eyes to avoid getting the mud into eye area.
- The type of face mask you use is up to your client’s skin type. For instance, if they have dry skin, opt for a moisturizing mask.
Then gently wash off.^{[7]
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American Academy of Dermatology
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This will close pores, as well as remove excess oil and impurities, which were not washed away with cleanser.^{[8]
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Give your client a mirror to view him/herself, and humbly accept their happy cries as they see how beautiful they are.

What Procedures Can Brighten Skin Complexion?

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Question

Would I need to apply makeup after a facial for the client as the norm? Like if she came in wearing makeup, would she want it redone?

Community Answer

If she came in with makeup on, she is likely uncomfortable without it. Ask her if she would like to reapply her own, or if she would like you to do it. Study up on how to do makeup well, just in case you're asked.

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If I use a product that washes off, how best do I make sure water doesn't drip everywhere?

Carolyn Barratt

Community Answer

Gently pat your face dry with a cotton towel. Use paper towels to dry off spilt water on everything else in the room.

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How often can a client do a deep pore-cleansing facial?

Carolyn Barratt

Community Answer

Once a week. Do not put a mask on again for at least 7 days. You may wait as long as 6 months before another one.

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There are other skin types besides the afore-mentioned 4. However, these all have their origins in them. E.g: Acneic skin has its origins in oily skin, and mature skin has its origins in dry skin.

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Be knowledgeable of different skin types, and of different skin care products and ingredients which are used in products.

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Mud and clays are not the only types of beauty masks. Certain foods, such as mayonnaise and honey, can also make good beauty masks too.

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Warnings

If you have a client who has an open wound on his or her face, or appears to be ill, you may refuse the person treatment for the time being, or request that you be able to use equipment which he/she may have brought with them. This is to avoid spreading germs, viruses, etc.

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Be wary of your clients' sensitivities and/or allergies. There are some allergies which are so severe, that they can even kill a person. Example: Allergies to nuts will cause the person's throat to swell to the point, where the person cannot breathe. This may even occur just by having the person in the very same room with nuts. Therefore, skin care products which contain nuts(such as exfoliating cleansers)must NOT be used on a client with allergies to nuts.

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Do NOT perform facial massage on a person who has heart conditions.^{[10]
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